History of Brigham Young University - Cecil O. Samuelson

Cecil O. Samuelson

Bateman was followed by Cecil O. Samuelson in 2003, who is the current president.

In 2007 The First Presidency invited George W. Bush to speak as the commencement speaker. When it became evident that he would be unable to attend, Dick Cheney accepted the invitation instead. The invitation generated controversy that was covered by all major news outlets. The University's Board of Trustees issued a statement explaining that the invitation to Vice President Cheney should be viewed "as one extended to someone holding the high office of vice president of the United States rather than to a partisan political figure." However, BYU permitted a protest to occur so long as it did not "attack BYU administration, the Church or the First Presidency." On April 26, 2007, Dick Cheney delivered a largely apolitical speech and was greeted warmly by over 20,000. All three members of the first presidency were in attendance. The leader of the protest was invited to appear on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart but did not do so because, "It wouldn't be a big deal if they were to make fun of our club, because it is funny, but it's something else if it's BYU or the church." A group of students held an alternative commencement off campus at a different time featuring Ralph Nader and Jack Healey as speakers.

In two separate forum assemblies in October 2007, BYU also hosted US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (a Democrat) and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as forum speakers. During his speech, Harry Reid presented his reasons for his political beliefs, his thoughts on the Iraq war, and his condemnation of those who opposed or supported Mitt Romney for his religious (as compared to his political) beliefs alone. Roberts spoke about the powers and limitations placed on the federal judiciary by the United States Constitution.

In 2012, BYU reached a legal settlement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer over a long-disputed patent claim involving the research behind the successful drug Celebrex. While the settlement amount was not disclosed, Pfizer's quarterly filings initially earmarked at least $450 million (BYU originally sought over $9 billion); is expected that this and likely future payments will have significant impact on BYU's endowment and research funding.